Cover or guard for set-screws.



No. 664,777. Patented Dec. 25, I900.

R. W. PRATT.

COVER OR GUARD FUR SET SCREWS.

7 {Application filed May 7, 1900.)

%%\mm\ "m1 ilNiTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH W. PRATT, OF ORWELL, NEW YORK.

COVER OR GUARD FOR SET-SCREWS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,777, dated December 25, 1900.

Application filed May '7, 1900. Serial No. 15,761. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH W. PRATT, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Orwell, in the county of Oswego and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Covers or Guards for Set- Screws, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to covers or guards for the set-screws of shafting, the object being to provide a simple, inexpensive, and effective device of this character which will prevent the engagement of a revolving projecting set-screw with the clothing of persons near the shafting or machinery upon which the screw is used.

The construction of the improvement and its novel features will be fully described hereinafter and defined in the appended claims in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a shaft with my invention applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same.

The reference-numeral l designates a revoluble shaft, and 2 a collar fixed thereon by means of a set-screw 3, the head 4 of which projects beyond the periphery of the collar, as shown in Fig. 2. These elements form no part of the invention, but are old and well known.

For the purpose of covering the set-screw 3, and thus preventing the possibility of injury to workmen or other persons by contact with the revolving screw, 1 provide a guard or cover comprising two semicircular sections 5 and 6, hinged together by a flat spring 7, secured at its ends by screws 8 or other fastenings. The meeting ends of the sections 5 and 6 are separately united by a semicircular tongue 9 on one section fitting into a corresponding groove 10 on the other section. The section 5 is formed on its inner surface with a slot or recess 11, into which projects the head 4 of the set-screw, as shown in Fig. 2.

The two sections of the cover are detachably connected at their free ends by means of a catch 12, secured at one end to the outer surface of the section 6 and bent at its opposite free end to form a dog 13, having an extension 14. The dog is adapted to engage a slot 15, formed in the outer surface of the section 5, said slot having an undercut wall 16 t0 render the fastening of the dog secure.

The utility and operation of the device will be readily understood. The cover may be quickly applied or removed and when in place forms a complete peripheral guard for the collar and its projecting screw. The spring 7 permits the sections to be separated a sufficient distance to disengage them from the collar, but automatically closes the sections and holds them in closed position.

The device is applicable to the set-screws on the hubs of pulleys, aswell as to couplingcollars on revolving shafts and also to keys resting in slots or key-seats. I

I claim- 1. A guard or cover for set-screws, comprising two semicircular sections connected by a tongue-and-groove joint; a fiat spring spanning said joint and conforming to the peripheral surface of the sections, secured at its ends to the sections, and a spring-catch secured to one of the sections, and adapted to engage a recess in the other section.

2. A guard or cover for set-screws, comprising two semicircular sections, one of which is recessed on both its inner and outer surface, connected bya semicircular tongue-andgroove joint; a fiat spring spanning saidjoint and forming a hinge for the sections; and a catch device comprising a fiat spring secured at one end to one section, and formed at its free end with a dog, having an extension.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RALPH W. PRATT.

Witnesses:

M. L. SPRINGSTEEN, ETON BAMBURY. 

